As soon as the 2008 election ended, Arizona Republicans were evaluating which of the state's congressional Democrats would be the most vulnerable targets in 2010, and first-term representative Ann Kirkpatrick was near the top of everyone's list. Now, Kirkpatrick's left flank is under attack as well from environmentalists unhappy with her record.

Meanwhile, former state Republican executive director Sean McCaffrey seemed to fan the flames of those Democratic fears, telling our reporter that the Dems have "never relished their role in the minority so much."